By Sydney Morton

After losing everything, Grayson Nordgren found himself and his alter ego, Jenna Telz.

Three years ago, Nordgren was kicked out of the Jehovah香蕉视频直播檚 Witness church for being gay, and lost his family and friends.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I first got kicked out, I lost everything, I lost my faith, friends, family, my goals, dreams, and where I was going in life. It香蕉视频直播檚 hard to sit back and think about that all. Through drag I found my place again and I feel like this is what saved me from a really dark time in my life,香蕉视频直播� said Nordgren.

Growing up, Nordgren describes himself as sheltered. If anything that referenced the LGBTQ+ community came on the TV his parents would change the channel. It was his curiosity after being exiled that led him to drag.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I first saw a drag queen, who is now a good friend of mine, I remember just thinking, 香蕉视频直播榳ow,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Nordgren.

香蕉视频直播淚 still remember that feeling, I was super curious about it and it香蕉视频直播檚 not that I didn香蕉视频直播檛 understand it. I was not exposed to it. The more I saw it, the more in love I fell with it.香蕉视频直播�

Nordgren said it香蕉视频直播檚 empowering and cool to completely transform.

香蕉视频直播�(It香蕉视频直播檚) the closest thing I could get to magic,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Jenna Tellz, a tall gothic vision, drew attention through her renditions of rock香蕉视频直播檔香蕉视频直播檙oll and grunge songs, such as Zombie by the Cranberries.

香蕉视频直播淛enna is my superhero, I was kicked out of my family and it香蕉视频直播檚 how I gained a self worth again. In my eyes, Jenna is my perfect superhero. She is goth and dark,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Now a thriving drag queen in Kelowna, Nordgren is about to gain national recognition in the next season of CBC香蕉视频直播檚 hit web docu-series, Canada香蕉视频直播檚 a Drag.

For the past 10 months, Nordgren has been able to sustain himself by performing as Jenna Tellz. Booking his own shows and venues.

香蕉视频直播淚 basically started cutting out the middle men in between myself and performing. I put on my own shows because I not given opportunities wanted,香蕉视频直播� he said.

RELATED: Kelowna Drag King rocks out into the spotlight

Nordgren also travels to schools throughout the Okanagan sharing his story to help youth find their voice and give them advice.

香蕉视频直播� I want them to come to realize it香蕉视频直播檚 OK to be themselves and that they don香蕉视频直播檛 have to go through depression I was going through,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 made my ideal role model out of Jenna, she is who I want to be, with the exception that I don香蕉视频直播檛 want to be a woman.香蕉视频直播�

Production is scheduled for Dec. 15 at Munnins Post during his Naughtymare Before Christmas double-feature performance.

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sydney.morton@kelownacapnews.com
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